While the production version is unlikely to feature the radical styling cues, the FCEV is expected to hit showrooms in the US and Japan in 2015, followed by Europe.

Styling aside, the body has been designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency while still accommodating up to five passengers.

The powerplant produces more than 100kW with a power-density of 3kW/l; an increase of 60 percent on the FCX Clarity while the stack-size has shrunk by 33 percent.

Honda expects the FCEV to have a driving range of more than 480km – a 94km improvement on the FCX’s 386km range - with a refuelling time of around three minutes.

The Japanese carmaker also claims the production version will be the first in the world to house its hydrogen-powered running-gear entirely within the engine bay, allowing greater flexibility with interior space.

The Honda FCEV will likely join the Toyota FCV (unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show) and Hyundai's ix35 FCEV on the market at around the same time, with the latter moving from limited to mass production in 2015.